Bride-to-Be Carole Rome and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist

Florida newspapers are breathlessly covering the minutiae of the Dec. 12 “marriage” of Gov. Charlie Crist and socialite-divorcee-Halloween costume designer Carole Rome. It’s the second time around for both of them, she having been married to Bluestar Jets CEO Todd Rome, and Charlie spending seven months during 1979 in some type of legal entanglement. Crist is widely rumored to be gay.

Which brings us to the matter at hand. Until a few days ago, all that press coverage concerned who was (hardly anybody) and was not (most members of the legislature) invited to the 200-person ceremony, what the invitations looked like (cream and pale pink with a note reminding guests that by Florida law, no gifts can be accepted), where the wedding will be held (First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg) and the reception (Renaissance Vinoy Resort), and what the bride and her two young daughters will wear (bride: silk, ruched bodice gown by a Spanish designer and three-inch heels; flower girls: cream-colored, floor-length dresses).

But here’s an element the happy couple can’t select: the ensembles for the protestors outside. Impact Florida is organizing a celebration of Crist’s so-called marriage, followed by a candlelight vigil for the thousands of gay people who don’t have the same opportunity to wed in Florida as do the governor and his fiancee.

We will be joining together in Pink Tee Shirts and bluejeans to congratulate Governor Crist on his wedding. The wedding is set to take place at the First Methodist Church in Downtown St. Pete.

After the positive Congratulatory observance. There will be a candlelight Vigil close to the Venoy in Downtown St. Pete to mourn the loss of Gays right to get married.

We ask people from all over Florida to join in at these events and that it is kept peaceful and respectful event.

Crist seemed to find the anti gay marriage amendment distasteful and claimed he had bigger fish to fry during the campaign, such as auditioning for the role of Sarah Palin before John McCain picked a running mate. That didn’t keep the governor from doing the mandatory Republican thing of supporting it.

“I’ll support it, I’ll vote for it, move on,” the governor said of the Amendment 2 gay-marriage ban in an interview during a trip to tour flood-damaged areas in Central Florida. “It’s not top-tier for me, put it that way.”

I wouldn’t think so. But Crist should get used to the idea that his personal life, which makes no sense no matter how hard he tries to live as a straight man, is relevant here. Impact Florida certainly thinks so.

“Our goal is to celebrate the governor’s and every Floridian’s fundamental right to marry,” said [spokeswoman Lorna] Bracewell, a singer and songwriter from St. Petersburg. “Our theme is going to be, Congratulations Governor – When I Can Get Married?”